The 19-year-old has a lot of potential and had been expected to start next season as a member of Mourinho’s first-team squad. That might not happen, if these comments are anything to go by…

The manager says that he and Loftus-Cheek’s relationship has taken a “step back” after the Blues’ win earlier today at ANZ Stadium.

Loftus-Cheek came on as a sub in the 40th minute, but was substituted only 28 minutes later by Jordan Houghton.

Despite being mostly impressive in his short stint on the pitch, he apparently complained of pain, according to Mourinho after the game.

“What I was feeling was that he only had this pain when Sydney had the ball, Mourinho said. “When Chelsea had the ball I never saw a pain in his back. When Chelsea had the ball he was playing very, very well. “

The Portuguese manager showed that he was not impressed with this one-sided game of football.

“With Ruben, it is one step back in my relations with him,” Mourinho said. “If he doesn’t know what it is to play for me and Chelsea, it’s one step back.”

This could be blamed on how young Loftus-Cheek is as well as his inexperience, but it seems that Mourinho is expecting the youngster to know by now. The Blues manager wants Loftus-Cheek to understand the differences of playing on the first team as compared to the under-18’s and apply this. He most definitely isn’t treating him like the young player he is, and expects a lot from the English midfielder.

“You don’t have to play like a superstar with the ball at your feet because this is the not the Under-18’s,” Mourinho added. “Why should I accept it in an 18/19-year-old kid? He has to learn what it takes to play for Chelsea.”